TheAmazingAtheist's Misogynist Meltdown

At the risk of splitting the “misogynist dickbaggery in the atheist movement” discussion in two, I really need to mention the amazingly well-timed Reddit meltdown of TheAmazingAtheist. It’s already been covered pretty well by PZ Myers and by Jen McCreight of BlagHag but, what the heck, I’ll throw in my two cents as well.

TheAmazingAtheist, for those who don’t follow these things, is (or was?) a popular atheist podcaster well-known, and beloved by some, for being something of a misogynist dickbag. He’s been on a anti-feminist kick for the last couple of months, winning himself many plaudits on Reddit’s Men’s Rights subreddit, though even the MR regulars couldn’t help but notice that he’s a bit of an ass.

Well, now he’s pretty much revealed, with a series of horrendous comments on Reddit, what a complete and utter asshole he is. Let me put a second TRIGGER WARNING here (for violent talk about rape), on top of the default TRIGGER WARNING I put on all my blog posts.

The context : a discussion (which he started) about the propriety of one feminist Redditor calling themself ICumWhenIKillMen. I’m not going to defend that nickname, which obviously makes light of violence in an obnoxious way. But AmazingAthiest was apparently so troubled by this sort of language that he felt compelled to spew forth a succession of violent rape threats.

Let me draw your attention to some of the highlights. (Click here to see his whole comment history on Reddit, where he comments as terroja).

I’m tired of being treated like shit by you mean little cunts and then you using your rape as an excuse. Fuck you. I think we should give the guy who raped you a medal. I hope you fucking drown in rape semen, you ugly, mean-spirited cow. Actually, I don’t believe you were ever raped! What man would be tasteless enough to stick his dick into a human cesspool like you? Nice gif of a turd going into my mouth. Is that kind of like the way that rapists dick went in your pussy? Or did he use your asshole? Or was it both? Maybe you should think about it really hard for the next few hours. Relive it as much as possible. You know? Try to recall: was it my pussy or my ass?

He continued in this fashion for some time, mocking those who pointed out that rape threats can be triggering, and regularly referring to his opponents as “cunts.” (Each of the following paragraphs is from a separate comment of his; click the quotes to see the full comments in question in their original context.)

Eventually, theAmazingAtheist found himself stopped short by this scathing critique, from the Redditor called veerserif.

I now know that, apart from being misguided, intentionally ignorant, and quick to resort to pathetic excuses, you are also a purposefully hurtful person with no sense of empathy, and no sense of remorse. You’re not just unintentionally uninformed, you actively turn what you know against people who should be deserving of your sympathy.

I was mistaken before. I thought, maybe, just maybe, after the circlejerking and the giggling, I could try showing you the stuff you said I didn’t highlight. I could show you what feminism has done for men, or maybe tell you about the existence of sex-positive feminism.

But this… this is a whole new level.

Your reputation, in my eyes, has fallen so far that dragging it back up to “mild disgust” would require nothing short of a miracle. You pretend to care about other people, but you really don’t. You like to think that you’re a decent human being, but you fall so far short of that you’re practically on separate planes of existence.

Deliberately triggering a rape victim? Equating being called out on your bullshit to the trauma of rape?

You know what you deserve? You don’t deserve death. You don’t deserve rape. You don’t even deserve some cosmically mandated, hilarious schadenfreude which would not only be brilliant, but just.

What you deserve is for everyone to know this side of you. You deserve for anyone who thought you were a good person to know what you’ve just done. You deserve your fans’ adoration turning to hatred, you deserve the judging stares and looks that people will give you. You deserve to be reminded, every day, of what you do and what you’ve done. You deserve to remember every day that there are people who suffer more than you, that there are people who are stronger and smarter, braver, more principled and better than you, in every way, until the day you realise exactly how wrong your actions have been.

I don’t want to see bodily harm visited on you, because I don’t want to see bodily harm visited on anyone. What I do want is for you – and, for that matter, every shitposter I’ve ever seen – to learn that anonymity is not an excuse.

He went on to make, yep, a little video about his experience, and to offer a weird and unconvincing “rebuttal” to PZ Myers’ comments on his meltdown. See PZ Myers’ post for links to the video, as well as the rebuttal itself (which is effectively re-rebutted by Myers). See here and here for a transcript of the video.

One heartening sign in all this: the massive numbers of downvotes theAmazingAtheist got for his worst comments. I hope that a significant number of them were from actual Men’s Rights Redditors, and not only from people who came into the discussion from elsewhere on Reddit, but of course there is no way of knowing.

Will atheists and MRAs drop theAmazingAtheist like a hot rape-threatening potato? Or will they start rallying around him as some sort of heroic truth teller and rape threatener? Somehow I suspect there will be a bit of both.

Yet here you are, nine months later as well, replying to me. And where, pray tell, did you get the impression that I underwent a raged “tantrum”? Grasping for straws, are you? Well, I can’t feign surprise, it’s every feminist’s recourse, you’re merely playing the hand you were dealt, deary. Could it possibly be because of the gratuitous exclamation points, rambling, and caps? Oh wait, that’d be you. As to explaining what a “complicit victim”, sorry, it’s not my job to fill the gaps of your unfortunate begrudged education. If you don’t know, you have the internet to check (it serves more purpose than patting yourself and your feminazi pals on the back in your understaffed niche).

And as to TAA and his credit; true about the amount of views not being an adequate barometer of unanimous agreement, BUT, the feedback bar speaks for itself. And even despite the harem of screeching yentas on this page and their valiant attempts to discredit his videos, you can see that it hasn’t really tilted the scale of likes vs dislikes. Nice attempt though.

Referring to the so-called feminist attempt at feminist challenging rape against males, well darling, you’d really have to prove that, from a credible source, not a feminazi-tumblr-frenzy quasi blog of this kind. From what I’ve seen, just about all their labors are invested exclusively in women’s aid and rape prevention–they’ve been characteristically apathetic about prison rape involving men!

And in closing, regarding your…colorful final paragraph, well, I suppose a quotation is in order: “We all know it’s because you’re a dunder-headed manchild with an entitlement complex the size of Texas who hates the idea of women having rights because for you to have to treat them as people would totally spoil everything.

Listen up, you wee misogo prick: you can have all the screaming shitfits you want, but your asinine flailing will never, ever make women have to be subservient to you. Fucking hell, you wouldn’t have even got along well in the 1950s, even they had societal rules about listening to colossal shitbags. I’m sorry that the world’s changing and that it terrifies you, but tough fucking shit.”

Now, what is it you were saying about a spittle-flecked screen brought on by tantrum? 😉

Thanks are in order.

I thank you for proving every point I made spot-on merely by virtue of your venomous attitude, scorned female ego, and hysterically irrational rant. You have clearly done my passage justice by assuming the role of the archetype feminazi I have focused on and challenged. Your words speak for themselves, and not a damn thing, including your panel of groupies judging your (for want of a better word) performance can counter that.

Enjoy your cozy little haven of pseudo-independent, phallus-fetishizing, misbegotten blog-dwelling twats, for it is surely the only venue for you to receive the support and enabling you so sorely crave, and shields you from the dawning reality you so sorely need.

Thanks Opheliamonarch, but I think he may be a mite concerned by the – what was it? – spittle-flecked, phallus-worshipping hysteria. Gosh, it makes me sound like a member of some Pan-worshipping cult doesn’t it!

The thread necromancer seems to be confusing word salad with word play.

your unfortunate begrudged education”

Begrudged?

you have the internet to check (it serves more purpose than patting yourself and your feminazi pals on the back in your understaffed niche)

Understaffed niche?

the harem of screeching yentas on this page

Just no.

Referring to the so-called feminist attempt at feminist challenging rape against males, well darling, you’d really have to prove that, from a credible source, not a feminazi-tumblr-frenzy quasi blog of this kind. From what I’ve seen, just about all their labors are invested exclusively in women’s aid and rape prevention–they’ve been characteristically apathetic about prison rape involving men!

“The so-called feminist attempt at feminist challenging rape against males” is grammatically challenged.
In your defense, “feminazi-tumblr-frenzy quasi blog of this kind” may not make a whole lot of sense, but it has a cool beat-poetry vibe.

You have clearly done my passage justice by assuming the role of the archetype feminazi I have focused on and challenged. Your words speak for themselves, and not a damn thing, including your panel of groupies judging your (for want of a better word) performance can counter that.

Without a doubt, ze clearly done your passage justice.
The second sentence has all sorts of problems grammar-wise, but I like how you make the board sound like a game show. (“Now let’s meet today’s panel of groupies!”)

And where, pray tell, did you get the impression that I underwent a raged “tantrum”?

From watching it.

Well, I can’t feign surprise,

So it’s legitmate surprise. Good to know.

And as to TAA and his credit; true about the amount of views not being an adequate barometer of unanimous agreement, BUT, the feedback bar speaks for itself. And even despite the harem of screeching yentas on this page and their valiant attempts to discredit his videos, you can see that it hasn’t really tilted the scale of likes vs dislikes. Nice attempt though.

Wow… doubling down on the appeal ad poplulem

You see, duckie, given the combination of rampant misogyny, persistent assholishness, and rampant ignorance in the world; married to any number of hoi polloi who have no more moral discernment than any other bigot, and the no appreciation for art, nor experience with a well turned phrase, it’s no surprise that any angry asshole will keep an audience.

So this line of “argument” you are making is no different than it was. Lots of assholes like him, it doesn’t make him either right, nor smart, nor funny.

Carrot-Top is still making a living Q.E.D..

you’d really have to prove that, from a credible source, not a feminazi-tumblr-frenzy quasi blog of this kind. From what I’ve seen,

That’s your problem, you have eyes to look but will not see.

And in closing,

This is the sort of thing which makes me say you need an editor. This is smack dab in the middle of the piece. And you don’t even make it long and sweeping coda, you dunderheadedly introduce two new arguments.

Now, what is it you were saying about a spittle-flecked screen brought on by tantrum?

Oh, a hit, a hit, a palpable hit!

That you don’t recognise rhetorical device was pretty obvious, from the get go, but to not only make your lack of practice with words, and the failure in actually deriving an education (no matter how much you may have spent on schooling) so plain; but to wallow in it, to splash about in it, like a rutting moose, well that takes a special kind of stupid.

The self-aware, someone who had take the least effort to lead an examined life, who tried to, “know thyself” would have seen when he was out of his depth, and quit the field.

@Cassandra: try looking up the word “fetishism” you typically misinformed cretin. The etymology of the word isn’t sexual. Not that I’d expect you to know. And while you’re at it you might also want to research the actual meaning of phallus. Typical troll, raging raw sex on the brain as a reinforcement of your feeble agenda.

Sorry Brooky, I can’t help you if you can’t follow up on the diction I’ve deployed. You might want to challenge what I’ve said by pointing out the error and the appropriate usage if you find fault with them, rather than just repeating them and putting a question mark right after.

And of course, like so many of your fellow harpies, grammar is your only recourse when you can’t contest any of the points I’ve made.

Enjoy your cozy little haven of pseudo-independent, phallus-fetishizing, misbegotten blog-dwelling twats, for it is surely the only venue for you to receive the support and enabling you so sorely crave, and shields you from the dawning reality you so sorely need.

Thank you! I quite do.

Manboobz is quite a nice site too, but it’s not where I go to for pseudo-indepedent fetischization.

And where, pray tell, did you get the impression that I underwent a raged “tantrum”?

Because of your constant reference to feminists as feminazis and harpies?

Grasping for straws, are you? Well, I can’t feign surprise, it’s every feminist’s recourse, you’re merely playing the hand you were dealt, deary.

Because obviously all MRAs are rational and don’t go crying “WHAT ABOUT THE MENZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ?!” when people start talking about anything else OTHER than men.

Could it possibly be because of the gratuitous exclamation points, rambling, and caps? Oh wait, that’d be you.

It’s called “mocking”. See: “misogyny: I mock it”.

As to explaining what a “complicit victim”, sorry, it’s not my job to fill the gaps of your unfortunate begrudged education. If you don’t know, you have the internet to check (it serves more purpose than patting yourself and your feminazi pals on the back in your understaffed niche).

Sweetie, we’re not stupid. MRAs might be, with their “evo psych” and “PUAs” and inability to see women as people, though!

And as to TAA and his credit; true about the amount of views not being an adequate barometer of unanimous agreement, BUT, the feedback bar speaks for itself. And even despite the harem of screeching yentas on this page and their valiant attempts to discredit his videos, you can see that it hasn’t really tilted the scale of likes vs dislikes. Nice attempt though.

That’s… not really an argument? Just because TAA has a whole bunch of defenders doesn’t make him any less vile.

Referring to the so-called feminist attempt at feminist challenging rape against males, well darling, you’d really have to prove that, from a credible source, not a feminazi-tumblr-frenzy quasi blog of this kind.

Remind me again which group expanded the definition so that anal and oral penetration counted as rape now?

(I’m hoping for made to penetrate to be under the label of rape too.)

From what I’ve seen, just about all their labors are invested exclusively in women’s aid and rape prevention–they’ve been characteristically apathetic about prison rape involving men!

And in closing, regarding your…colorful final paragraph, well, I suppose a quotation is in order: “We all know it’s because you’re a dunder-headed manchild with an entitlement complex the size of Texas who hates the idea of women having rights because for you to have to treat them as people would totally spoil everything.

Listen up, you wee misogo prick: you can have all the screaming shitfits you want, but your asinine flailing will never, ever make women have to be subservient to you. Fucking hell, you wouldn’t have even got along well in the 1950s, even they had societal rules about listening to colossal shitbags. I’m sorry that the world’s changing and that it terrifies you, but tough fucking shit.”

Now, what is it you were saying about a spittle-flecked screen brought on by tantrum? 😉

Using harsh language and swearing doesn’t equal a tantrum.

Thanks are in order.

I thank you for proving every point I made spot-on merely by virtue of your venomous attitude, scorned female ego, and hysterically irrational rant.

What point?

You have clearly done my passage justice by assuming the role of the archetype feminazi I have focused on and challenged.

Because women are not supposed to be mad, amirite?

Your words speak for themselves, and not a damn thing, including your panel of groupies judging your (for want of a better word) performance can counter that.

Enjoy your cozy little haven of pseudo-independent, phallus-fetishizing, misbegotten blog-dwelling twats, for it is surely the only venue for you to receive the support and enabling you so sorely crave, and shields you from the dawning reality you so sorely need.

I was just poking fun at your lively, albeit not always entirely successful, turns of phrase. I get a kick out of your posts, partly because I imagine them being read in an old-timey, Walter Winchell-style breathless staccato.

And of course, like so many of your fellow harpies, grammar is your only recourse when you can’t contest any of the points I’ve made.

I contest your claim that there are any discernible points in your two stream-of-conscious rage posts. You’re all jacks and no aces, Daddy-o.

“If you don’t know, you have the internet to check (it serves more purpose than patting yourself and your feminazi pals on the back in your understaffed niche).”

“Referring to the so-called feminist attempt at feminist challenging rape against males, well darling, you’d really have to prove that, from a credible source, not a feminazi-tumblr-frenzy quasi blog of this kind.”

“Enjoy your cozy little haven of pseudo-independent, phallus-fetishizing, misbegotten blog-dwelling twats, for it is surely the only venue for you to receive the support and enabling you so sorely crave, and shields you from the dawning reality you so sorely need.”

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